Oliveira Calls Out New Champion Gaethje

Charles Oliveira did not wait long for his next target.

Less than a week after Justin Gaethje stopped Ilia Topuria on the White House lawn to become the undisputed lightweight champion, the Brazilian was in his mentions with a proposition that is difficult to ignore.

"BMF and UFC lightweight belt. Let's make history. Deal? Winner takes all… Justin Gaethje," Oliveira

Oliveira holds the BMF belt after stopping Max Holloway at UFC 326 in March, a performance that confirmed his standing as one of the most dangerous lightweights on the planet regardless of where the championship picture sits. He also holds a submission victory over Gaethje from their UFC 274 meeting in May 2022.

The new champion's silence is understandable given the circumstances — he fought four brutal rounds on Sunday night, survived an armbar attempt, took serious facial damage, and then watched Topuria sit down on his stool.

At 37, with the belt finally around his waist after two previous title fight defeats, Gaethje may genuinely be weighing whether there is anything left to prove. Walking away as champion after the most significant upset of his career is a cleaner ending than most fighters get.

The BMF belt sweetens the proposition commercially and gives the UFC a marketing angle that a standard mandatory defence would not generate. Winner takes all, two titles, a rematch with genuine history behind it — the pitch writes itself. Now Gaethje has to decide.